CAB attempts to mislead ParliamentMar 21, 2002 OTTAWA - Canada's private broadcasters are attempting to mislead Parliamentarians in a bid to win new taxpayer subsidies, diminish the CBC and preserve policies that protect the industry from competition, according to Friends of Canadian Broadcasting. The private broadcasters' lobby group, the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, will discuss its submission with the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage this morning. "The CAB's claim that private broadcasters have become the predominant source of Canadian programming in the system is based on statistics manipulated to inflate their Canadian content contribution," said FCB spokesperson Ian Morrison. In prime time, when most people are free to watch, CBC's English Television Network attracts 18 million viewing hours to Canadian programs each week. The combined total of all the English private conventional stations is only 11 million viewing hours. "When most English speaking Canadians are free to watch television, the choice is Canadian programming on CBC or mostly Hollywood rebroadcasts on the two major private networks, CTV and CanWest Global. According to the CAB submission, market fragmentation, a shift to subscription revenue and the prospect of digital conversion have turned conventional broadcasters into Canada's most needy corporations. The CAB has urged the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage to adopt a policy agenda that would cost the taxpayer hundreds of millions of additional dollars, including:
The CAB is also asking to Parliament to maintain exclusions and exceptions in trade agreements and to end Canadian content requirements for prime time. "If current trends continue, for the first time this year, Canada's private conventional broadcasters will spend more buying programs in Hollywood than they are spending on homegrown programs," Morrison said. "It's a dubious proposition being made by the CAB. They're asking us to reduce their prime time Canadian content requirements in order to enhance their guaranteed profits from simulcasting American programming during prime time. They're also asking for increased public support to produce Canadian content and subsidize consumers' switch to digital television," said Morrison. For information: LinksView the CAB submission (754KB) |
Apr 30, 2012 — Michaëlle Jean is the People’s Pick for CBC ChairFRIENDS says the CBC belongs to all Canadians and its leadership positions should be open to the best and brightest citizens, not just those on the government’s patronage pay-off list Apr 26, 2012 — FRIENDS launch People’s Pick for CBC ChairFRIENDS says the antiquated practice of political patronage for appointing the CBC Board and President is in need of reform. Mar 29, 2012 — Vindictive cuts break CBC promise and target Canadian cultureThe federal budget singles out the CBC for vindictive cuts that break the Conservative’s election promise to maintain or increase funding to the national public broadcaster. Mar 23, 2012 — Nanos poll shows Canadians want CBC promise keptA new Nanos survey has found a majority of Canadians support or somewhat support the position staked out by Heritage Minister James Moore one day after the election that the Conservative government will maintain or increase CBC funding. Mar 16, 2012 — BCE acquisition of Astral raises concernsFRIENDS says BCE Inc.'s bid to purchase Astral Media, the largest media merger in Canadian history, raises concerns about market domination. Feb 13, 2012 — Poll finds Canadian media too important to allow foreign controlAccording to a new opinion survey, 77% of Canadians see domestic media companies as too important for cultural and security reasons to allow them to be controlled by foreign interests. Feb 1, 2012 — Hamilton residents want their own CBC stationA substantial majority of Hamilton area residents would like CBC to establish a local radio station to cover community affairs, and support the Conservative's pre-election pledge to maintain or increase CBC funding. Jan 31, 2012 — London residents want their own CBC stationA wide majority of London residents would like CBC to establish a local radio station to cover community affairs and most hope their MP would champion the new station or not oppose it. |
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